The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-06-07
[Brooklyn Union and Standar,
GUN MAKER MAXIM.
A Down East-coast State of Maine
Teetota,ler In the Presence of the
Gar.
LPall Mall Gazette.

ran Mail OdLSlleJ
Mr.. Maxim received very cordial well
come at the Russian capital, and he had but
little difficulty in convincing the minister of
War-wh0se name he declares it is quite i'm
possible for any Anglo-Saxon to pronounce
without dislocating his jaw-of the advan-
tages of his machine gun. AT present he
has only built guns to suit the English car
fridge. He has undertaken to build gun to
suit the Muscovite ammunition, for the car
fridge is the soul of the gun.
The chief Einterest Of his visit, however,
centered in his excursion to Gatschina and
his reception by the Gar. Mr. Maxim was
to'have taken his gun to the palace, but on
arriving at the station the Minister of War
begged him not to take the gun through.
He said that the Emperor was very much
pressed with business; they had no end of
papers for him to read through and sign, and
if Mr.. Maxim were once to get his gun into
the Imperial presence all hopes of getting
any business done would disappear: for the
Emperor took so keen an interest in all such
matters that he was apt to become alb
sorbed in them to the detriment of other
business which the Minister did not wish to
nave postponed. MI. MAXIM reluctantly
consented to leave his gun behind, and went
to Gatschina armed with nothing but an al
bum of photographs.
On arriving at Gatschina he was ushered
into waiting room, comfortably furnished
where capital dinner was served him and
he was waited upon by regiment of off.
Gals in elaborate uniforms. After he had
refreshed himself and made his toilet he was
conducted by one high functionary through
endless passages and handed over to the care
Of aides-de-camp, who after little parley
ushered him into the Imperial presence.
The Gar stepped forward and greeted him
kindly and introduced him to the Grand
Duke Michael, who was present at the inter-
view.
Mr.. Maxim was much impressed with the
palace Of the Car. He describes Alexan-
Ill. as being man of Imperial presence,
tall, stately, not in the least degree corpu-
lent, with an eye as clear as if he had been,
like Mr.. Maxim himself, teetotaler off the
State Of Maine. He is slightly inclined to
be bald, but is in the prime Of life, full of
yigor and intelligence. 1t was impossible to
look into his clear, open countenance with
out realizing the absurdity of many stories
current in the English press. The Grand
Duke Michael is lessspreposessing:in appear
ance, and trace of Imperial purple in the
wrong place seemed to imply that he was
less abstemious than the Emperor.
the Car.
81 have not brought it," said Mr.. Maxim
IN French, "as ! feared you would not have
time to look at it,
The Emperor shrugged his shoulders and
looked at the Grand Duke with an air of dis.
appointment. Mr.. Maxim had it on his
tongues end to lay the blame on the WA
Minister, who had so sorely against his will
induced him to leave his gun behind but re-
iltectlng with shreWd Yankee sagacity that
If he blamed the War Minister his chances
of securing contracts to supply the Russian
army With his automatic machine gun would
materially diminish. he refrained and made
the best shift he could by opening his album
OF photographs and describing his gun to the
Emperor. Never had he a more interested
listener; the Gar questioned him closely
concerning all the details of his gun, and dis
cussed the whole question with the close
interest of mechanic.
but why have you left your own country
to come to England?"
Mr.. Maxim explained that as his business.
was to make weapons of destruction it was
necessary for him to take up his abode in 4
continent where the business of destruction
was the chief occupation of mankind In
the New World they have something else to
do than to kill each other. Therefore he
came to the Old World, where instruments
OF slaughter were in request. The Gar
laughed and continued his inquiries about
the gun.
The conversation, which began in French.
was soon changed to English, which the Gar
spoke with ease and accuracy, but with a
foreign accent. Mr.. Maxim promised to
come back in the autumn and bring with him
a gun adapted to the Russian cartridge. AZ
ter some further friendly remarks, in the
course of which the Gar recommended his
visitor to beware of taking too much brandy
little knowing" said Mr.. Maxim, "that
he was talking to blhe-blooded, down-east-
coast State of Maine teetotaller"- inter-
view came to an end. 1t had lasted nearly
three-quarters of an hour.